Pump valve



Dec. 28, 1937. D. w. Hom-:RER

PUMP VALVE Filed April 26, 1935 emma Dee. 23.5.1937

zumrao ffs'rATEs PATENT* 3 ma. (ci. esiim j ,Thirinvention'relates to valves' and relates more4 particularly to valves vfor use4 inwellpr'o- Aduction pumps or well pumps, etc.' A generalob- '1 ject o! this invention is to provide a simple, I practical well pump that is'particularly elcient.

'Ihe pumps employed' .in producing or pumping oil wells are often provided with ball 'type lstandingvalves and working valves. In some instances springs are provided to return the `balls of the valvesto theirseats. These=springs have been arranged within the open valve cages-tol act directly on the valves. I 'I'he uncontrolled springs acting directly onv thevalves cause the ballsor A valves to dance on their seats under certain operating conditions greatly Iimpairing the efficiency of 'the pump and damaging the equipment. when' th springs positioned in the open cages or the parts connected with the springs fail they become displaced and often damage the pump. 20' Another object of this invention isto provide a pump4 valve in 4which the valve or ball is quickly returned to its sea-t and does not chatter or dance -on its seat. y. l- Another object, ofthe invention is to provide a 25..,pump valve that embodies a spring means for quickly returning the valve or ball to its seat whose action is dampened or controlled by a simple hydraulic means. The action of the valve closing springr of the present invention is stabilized or controlled so that the valve cannot chatter or dance on its seat. Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve of the character mentioned in which the valve control prevents excessive spinning or rotation of the valve or ball but allows sumcient turning of the ball to insure its even wearing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pump valve ofthe character mentioned in which the spring and other parts of thefvalve control are housed so that they cannot be lost from the cage in the event of breakage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well pump valve of the character mentioned that is inexpensive and that is small yand compact so that it does not complicate the pump construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide aavalve of the character mentioned that is readily fadapted for embodiment in well pumps of various classes as well as in air compressors and like mechanisms.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description ofv a typical preferred form the lower end of the tubing T. The anchor Il is 3,..

lthe anchor I I to seal with the shoe I2.

and application of the invention, throughout, whichdescription reference is madeto the laccompanying drawing, in which: l

Fig. l is vacentral longitudinal detailed sec- 4 tional view ot a well pump embodying the valves i5V of the present'invention showing certainv parts ,in elevation. Fig. 2 is yan enlarged longitudinal detailed sectional view taken ysubstantially as indicated byline 2--2 on Fig. land Figs. .3, f1, v5 and 6 are enlarged, transverse detailed sectional y10 views taken as indicated by lines 3 3, 4 4, 5 5- and 66, respectively, yon-lig. 2. A The'present invention is capable of embodiment in val'ves for use in various classes and types of well pumps and similar equipment. The invention is adapted tol be embodied in valves of dlti'erent types, for example, it is adapted for embodiment in ball type valves, plumb bob` type valves,

drop weight" valves, etc. In the following detailed disclosure the invention will beV described 20 embodied in the ball 'and ring type standing valve and the ball and, ring type working valve of a well pump involving a stationary plungeranda working or'reciprocating barrel, it being understood thatthe invention is adapted to be embodied in forms for use inwell pumps having stationary barrels and reciprocating plungers and in other classes of equipment.

The pump illustrated in the drawing includes a plunger I0 mounted or arranged in a relatively o stationary position in the lower portiongof a tubing T. In the typical construction illustrated an anchor II is connected to the lower end of the plunger I0 and is releasably held in a shoe I2 on held in the shoe I2 to normally hold the plunger I0 against movement. Packing I3 is provided on The stationary plunger I0 is tubular and its lower end is open to the anchor II which; is open to the` 4, lower endof the well. A barrel I4 ts over the plunger lll and is connected to or carried by a sucker rod llia to be reciprocated relative to the plunger. The barrel I4 .is a long tubular structure provided at its lower end with -a collar orl 4 5 bushing I5 for slidably engaging the plunger I Il. The bushing I5 is adapted to have clutching cooperation with a nutor coupling I6 on the plunger I0 for theplfirpos'e of tightening the threaded connections in the sucker rod string. A suitable 5@ packing means or packing assembly I1 is provided on the upper end portion of the plunger I0 to slidzibly seal with the internalwall of the barrel 4.

The present invention provides, generally,` a my',

Il including a seat I8. aeage Il. s valve membex-or bali Il inthe cage Il foi' wonerating'with the seat Il and controlled means 2| forquickiy returningtheballvalve Iltoits'seslt'llv after being opened, and tue invention further provides aworkingvalvewonthereciproeatingbarrsl" Il comprising a combination of elements corresponding in construction and operation to the elementsofthevalve's. l Y

'me' standing valve S is providedto control thenowfromtheupperendofthsstationary plunger Il. The standing val arranged on the'upper end of the plunger anditsseat'llmaybesupportedendofathreadedpartli oftheplunger. seat Illsaring-likememberhavlnganannular suriaeeil on its upper sidefthat is spherically concave to reoeivefthe ball Il. 'The seat I8 is preferably arranged so that it may be easily removed for repair and replacement. A

The cagc- I! is provided to enclose'or retain the ball 2l and to=housethemeans 2l. vThe rcage I0 is an elongate integralmember having a principall lower portion 28 and an extension or upper portion 2l oi' reduced diameter. The principal lower 'portion Il of the cage is tubular having a vertical or longitudinal opening Il for hold- 'ing the ball 2l. ,The lower portion of the opening Il is threaded so that the cage -IS may be threaded on the head part 2l -of the plunger I0 as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The cage II may retain the seat I8 in position. 'Ihe wall of the cage portion 2l is apertured onprovided with spaced openings 32 'forthe' passage of uid into the barrel `I4` when the ball 2l is in its open position. The openings' 32 are' comparatively large but are proportioned and shaped to prevent the escape of the ball Il'i'rom the cage. In the form of the invention illustrated the valve or ball is a simple spherical member cooperating with the surface 21 of the `seat I8 toclose the upper -endfof the plunger iiuid from the plunger Il 'to' the barrel Il duringportion Il ofthe cage to facilitate its engagement by a fishing tool.y

'I'he controlled means 2| for returning the ball 2l to its seat I8 after being opened'includes a stabilizing pin 31 shiftable or slidable longitudinally in theopening 3l. The pin 31 projects from the opening 34 into theopening 30 so thatv its lower end I8 is adapted to cooperate with or engage the ball 20.l The lower end 38 of the' pin 31 is preferably inclined so that the pin 31 exerts a slightly lateral pressure on the ball 2l to prevent excessive spinning or rotation of theball. In accordance with the invention the pin 31- is provided with a head 3l in the form .of a cylindrical enlargement that operates in the opening 33. The opening I3 constitutes `a cylinder open` ing in the cage I9 and the head 39 forms a plunger or piston operable in the opening 33.

The pin 31 is arranged in position byinserting the cagel 1 s,ev standingvalvesontheupperendoftheplungu`I` it through the end ofthe il and the head il positively' prevents los or displacement ofthepln I1 from'the cage I0. AThe pin 31 is proportioned so .that its lower'end Il may eng'agelt'he'ball Il when the ball is resting on 4the The valve returning means 2| includes a spring 4I for urging the pin 81 into engagement with the ball- 20. It is a feature of the invention. that the spring el is housed or retained in the opening ll so that it cannot be lost or displaced from the ycage I! linthe event that it breaks or fails.

The spring ll maybe a simple spiral or helical spring arranged longitudinally iiil the opening 33.

The lower end of the spring 4l bears on the head I0 of thepin 81 and a plug. is'threaded in the Aupper end of the opening 3 8 to cooperate with the upper end of the spring. The spring 4l is under sumcient compression to quickly return I the ball 2l toits seat l..

communication withgthe interior of the barrel IL A port 4 2 may extend through the wall. of

the cage Il to comnunicatcwith the lower/end of the opening 3l anda similar port 43 may extend through the wall of the cage to communicate with the upper end of the-.opening 332 The ports 4! and are preferably inclined downwardly a'nd outwardly so that they do not l accumulate sandor solid matter. The portsl 42 and 43 permit the ejection of liquid, gases and sand fromthe opening ".1 The liquid handled by the pump normally flllsor occupies the opening 33. The ports 42 and 4I are proportioned and the clearance of the head 'Il in the openin g Il is such that' movement of the head 3l and pin 311s retarded ordampenedto the deslred degree. 'I'he liquid displaced or forced through the ports l! and 4I during movementoithe pin I1 has a dampening or stabilizing action on the spring Il so that the ball'lll is not permitted'to chatter or dance about on its seat It.

In most'instances it may be desirable to proportion the head i. to permit a limited ilow of duid passed 'or around the head as it moves through the opening 33 yso thatthe liquid trapped inthe opening does not dampenthe spring action to too great an extent.

y'Zlhe working valve W is operable to control the passage ofuid from the upper end of the barrel.

Il ihto the tubing T. The valve W may be sub- -stantially identical with the valve S described in detail above and in the drawing the reference' numerals directed to the parts of the valve W Y designate elements of the valve W corresponding to the elements ofthe valve S bearing the same reference numerals. The seat I8 of the valve W is removably arranged on the upper end of the head member M on Vthewbarrel Il and the cage I9 of the valve W is threaded on the member M to removably clamp the seat I8 in place. The cage I9 of the valve W has a threaded socket SII in the upper end receiving the threaded pin 5I' on the'lower end of the sucker rod IB. In practice the'socketi lmay be' a continuation of the opening 33 of the cage I8 and the threaded plug 4I may separate the socket 50 and the opening 3l as illustrated. It. is to be understood that y 204 The cylinder openingA Il maybeported tohave quickly return the valves 2li to their .seats Il. 'Ihe action of the valve returning springs is controlled by the hydraulic means comprising the pin heads 39 and 56 operating in the cylinder,

openings 33 and 52. The liquid trapped in the openings tends to retard any sudden movement of the heads 39 and thus positively prevents un desirable chattering and dancing of the balls 20. The valves provided by this invention thus greatly increase the eiliciency of the pump. Further, the valve controlling means prevents excessive and premature wearing of the Valve parts. The pins 31 engaging the balls 20 prevent excessive spinning or turning of the balls but allowthem to turn suiciently to wear evenly. 'I'he valves are simple and compact and may be embodied in the pump without modifying or altering the pump assembly.

Having describedonly a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not Wish to be limited or restricted to the specific form and application herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modications or variations that may appear to those skilled yin the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A well pump valve including, a free ball valve, a cage for the valve, a seat in the cage engageable by the valve, a cylinder projection on the upper end of the cage having a cylinder opening, the cylinder opening extending to the upper end of the projection, `a removable plug closure in the cylinder opening below its upper end, the portion of the cylinder opening above the plug closure being threaded to receive a pump part, there being a guide opening from the lower end of the cylinder opening -to the cage, a pin separate from the valve and slidable in the guide opening to have its lower end engage the valve, a head on the pin shiftable in the cylinderopening, said cylinder projection having iluid ports through its wall above and below the head, and a spring conlined in the cylinder `opening and acting on the head to normally yieldingly urge the pin downwardly against the ball valve.

2. .A well pump valve including, a free ball valve, a cage for the valve, aseat in the cage engageable by the valve, a cylinder projection on the upper end of the cage having a cylinder opening, the cylinder opening extending to the upper end oi the projection, a removable plug closure in the cylinder opening below its upper end, the portion of the cylinder opening above the plug closure being threaded to receive a pump part, there being a guide opening from the lower end ofthe cylinder opening to the cage, a pin separate from the -valve and slidable in the guide opening to have its lower end engage the valve, a head on the pin shift/able in the cylinder opening, said cylinder projection having iluid ports through its wall above and below the head, and a spring confined in the cylinder opening and acting on the head to nor'- mally yieldingly urge the pin downwardly against the ball valve, there being a socket in the lower end of the cage for receiving a pump part.

3. A well pump valve including, a free ball valve, a cage forthe valve, a seat for the valve within the cage, a cylinder projection on the upper end o1' the cage having a cylinder opening axially aligned with the seat, there being a guide opening axially aligned with the seat and extending from the lower end of the cylinder opening to the cage, a pin separate from the valve and slidable longitudinally in the guide opening, the lower end of the pin being nat and inclined relative tothe longitudinal axis of the pin, and a spring coniined in the opening and urging the pin downwardly to engage the inclined end of the pin 'against the ball valve. 

